Family Law

Our firm has regularly appeared on behalf of children in the Duty Solicitor Scheme operating at the Port Kembla Children's Court. Our solicitors are also on the Legal Aid Commission Panel in the care (child welfare) jurisdiction. Our staff have a wide range of experience in dealing with children's matters and have acted for children, parents, carers, and Katie is currently on the panel of solicitors who appear on behalf of the Director General of the Department of Communities and Justice.

We can happily provide you with advice and representation in all your dealings with the Department of Communities and Justice.

Ray's expertise extends to Appeals under the Children & Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 in the District Court and has appeared in a number of appeals in the District Court without Counsel.

The firm has always had a thriving conveyancing practice, including the purchase and sale of houses, home units, vacant land and businesses. Kerrie Johnson is responsible for the supervision of all conveyancing within the firm with assistance from Sandra Allen, her conveyancing paralegal.

We also offer assistance and advice in relation to refinancing, leasing including commercial leases and buying "off the plan".

It is always a difficult time when a loved one passes away, or ends up incapacitated. Often there is confusion and disputes over decisions concerning a persons care, or their estate. We can help you plan for the future and add certainty for those moments when the worst happens. Our firm can prepare your Will, or your Power of Attorney & Enduring Guardianship to ensure your loved ones know what your wishes are should the worst happen.

We also act for clients and advise them in relation to disputed Wills. Following the introduction of the Succession Act, many clients can now benefit from the advice which we can provide to avoid future disputes involving a Will or a deceased Estate.

We also act for clients in relation to civil disputes in the Local, District and Supreme Courts. In some circumstances (where permission is granted) we also appear in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal both for traders and for consumers. In many cases, it is possible to settle a dispute quickly and at minimal costs to clients and our focus is always on achieving early positive outcomes for our clients.

For a variety of reasons, including the long delays that many clients face in proceedings listed in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, the firm offers mediation services in areas of both parenting disputes and property settlements. Kerrie Johnson is an Accredited Family Law Specialist who was admitted as a solicitor in 1978. She is able to conciliate and mediate disputes involving property in our Wollongong office with a goal of settling disputes. Although Kerrie's views are not binding, in most cases she is able to accurately predict the outcome of a property settlement dispute without the parties having to face the protracted delays and pay the high costs associated with a defended hearing. Kerrie provides mediation in property disputes irrespective of whether or not proceedings have been commenced and if parties have already engaged solicitors to act on their behalf, we welcome the attendance of the parties' legal representatives at mediation sessions.

We appear in all matters in the Local and District Courts, including guilty pleas (eg drink driving matters) and at defended hearings. We also brief counsel in relation to Appeals against convictions, or as to the severity of sentences.